Background: National School Lunch Program (NSLP) meals have been found to be of higher dietary quality than home-packed lunches. Objective: To explore the cost, including time, of NSLP versus different categories of home-packed lunches. Methods: Data from pre-kindergarten and kindergarten lunches from three schools in southwest Virginia were used for this study. Each lunch item was priced, and a direct cost was assigned based on the lunches contents. Time assessments were conducted to determine the amount of time to prepare each lunch, with a monetary value for time computed based on average salary of the respective county. A non-parametric Kruskal Wallis test was used to compare the direct cost, time, time cost, and the full cost of the meals. Medians were computed based on outlier data. Results: The lowest median direct cost was found for homemade packed lunches ($1.55), followed by homemade school lunches ($2.11), then convenience packed lunches ($2.12), and then NSLP lunches ($2.15). When incorporating preparation time, the NSLP lunch cost the least ($2.15), followed by convenience packed lunches ($2.56), then homemade packed lunches ($2.92), and then homemade school lunches ($11.32). Seventy-six percent (n=414) of home-packed lunches contained sugar-sweetened beverages and/or dessert food items, accounting for almost one-quarter (21.8%) of the cost of all home-packed lunches. Conclusion: When time is computed as part of the total cost of NSLP versus home-packed lunches, the NSLP is the least expensive option. In conjunction with the nutritional benefits of the NSLP, this time-cost data may help shift purchasing and consumption patterns. / Master of Science / Background: National School Lunch Program (NSLP) meals served at school have been found to be healthier than home-packed lunches. Objective: To investigate the differences in cost, including time, among NSLP lunches and different categories of home-packed lunches. Methods: Data from pre-kindergarten and kindergarten lunches from three schools in southwest Virginia were used for this study. Each lunch item was priced, and a direct cost was given based on the items in each lunch. Researchers then made each lunch or recorded packaging preparation times to determine the amount of time to prepare each lunch, with a value for time given in dollar form based on average salary of the respective county. A non-parametric Kruskal Wallis test was used to compare the direct cost, time, time cost, and the full cost (i.e. direct cost + time cost) of the meals. The data is based on medians to give a better representation of the data. Results: The lowest median direct cost was found for homemade packed lunches ($1.55), followed by homemade school lunches ($2.11), then convenience packed lunches ($2.12), and then NSLP lunches ($2.15). When incorporating preparation time, the NSLP lunch cost the least ($2.15), followed by convenience packed lunches ($2.56), then homemade packed lunches ($2.92), and then homemade school lunches ($11.32). Seventy-six percent (n=414) of home-packed lunches contained sugar-sweetened beverages and/or dessert food items, accounting for almost one-quarter (21.8%) of the cost of all home-packed lunches. Conclusion: These results show an interesting difference in lunch cost based on category when considering cost and time. Given the research on the health benefits of NSLP meals over home-packed lunches, the cost data may help shift purchasing and eating patterns among parents of school-age children.